Nepeta plant named &#39;Blue Dragon&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct form of  Nepeta reptans  plant characterized by medium height, strongly upright habit, large violet flowers, and vigor. It is an ideal middle or back of the border perennial for full sun.

BOTANICAL DENOMINATION

Nepeta spp.

VARIETY DESIGNATION

‘Blue Dragon’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta, given the name, ‘Blue Dragon’. Nepeta is in the family Lamiaceae. This plant originated from a planned breeding cross between Nepeta yunnanensis, as the seed parent, and Nepeta nervosa, as the pollen parent. Four seedlings resulted from the cross. This new cultivar was selected as it was more dwarf than the seed parent Nepeta yunnanensis with larger flowers and a strongly upright habit rather than sprawling. In addition, the new cultivar doesn't run like some N. yunnanensis described online. Compared to the pollen parent, Nepeta nervosa, the new cultivar is taller, with larger flowers, and larger and deeper green leaves.

Nepeta ‘Blue Dragon’ is unique in its combination of medium height, strongly upright habit, large violet flowers, and vigor. It is an ideal middle or back of the border perennial for full sun.

The new variety has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (cuttings and micropropagation). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by cuttings and micropropagation using terminal and lateral shoots as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a close up of the flower of Nepeta ‘Blue Dragon.

FIG. 2 shows a two year old Nepeta ‘Blue Dragon’ in bloom growing in full sun in the trail bed in June in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Nepeta cultivar based on observations of a four-year-old specimen grown outside in the ground in the trial beds in Canby, Oreg. The color descriptions are all based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition.

-   Plant:     -   -   Type.—herbaceous perennial.         -   Form.—upright clumping.         -   Cold hardiness.—USDA Zone 5-10.         -   Size.—grows to 84 cm wide and 89 cm high.         -   Vigor.—excellent.         -   Stem number.—30 stems from the crown.         -   Stem.—upright, grows to 62 cm long and 10 mm wide (at the             base), internodes grow to 7 cm long, with side branches at             12 degree angles off the main stem, pubescent, Yellow Green             146C, square in cross section.         -   Rooting.—plants root easily from stem cuttings. -   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—simple, aromatic.         -   Arrangement.—opposite.         -   Shape.—ovate.         -   Venation.—pinnate.         -   Margins.—coarsely serrate.         -   Apex.—acuminate.         -   Base.—cordate-auriculate.         -   Blade size.—grows to 12 cm long and 7 cm wide.         -   Surface texture.—pubescent on both sides.         -   Petiole.—grows to 1 cm long and 1 mm wide, pubescent, Yellow             Green 147B.         -   Leaf color.—topside green N137D, bottom side Yellow Green             147B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—terminal many flowered verticillasters in opposite             cymes.         -   Number of flowers.—nine to 27 per cyme.         -   Size of inflorescence.—grows to 32 cm long and 10 cm wide.         -   Peduncle.—grows to 34 cm long and 5 mm wide, pubescent,             Yellow Green 146C.         -   Pedicel.—sessile.         -   Bloom period.—May to September in Canby, Oreg. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—32 mm long and 11 mm wide at the widest point prior to             opening.         -   Description.—irregular teardrop, flattened dorsally.         -   Surface.—pubescent.         -   Color.—Violet Blue 90B. -   Flower:     -   -   Type.—zygomorphic.         -   Shape.—bilabiate, funnel form.         -   Corolla description.—43 mm long and to 18 mm wide; tube 18             mm long, throat 15 mm long and 12 mm wide, flattened             dorsally, pouched on bottom; 2 upper lobes orbicular,             overlapping, 8 mm long and 8 mm wide, obtuse, entire; two             side lobes, orbicular, 5 mm long and 6 mm wide, entire,             obtuse; the bottom lobe 6 mm long and 10 mm wide, orbicular             on a short limb, in two cupped parts, entire, obtuse;             pubescent outside, glabrous inside except bottom lobe which             has long pubescence in the center; color inside Violet Blue             90B, outside Violet Blue 90C except on bottom lobe where             inside color is spotted Purple Violet N81A, Violet Blue 90A,             and Violet N88A on a light background, Violet 85C.         -   Calyx description.—funnel form, 5 lobed, 11 mm long and 5 mm             wide, lobes dorsal flattened, narrow and deeply cut,             acuminate, entire, strongly pubescent outside, glabrous             inside; upper 3 lobes spreading, 5 mm long and 1 mm wide;             lower 2 lobes together 4 mm long and 1 mm wide, Greyed             Purple N186A.         -   Pistil description.—1, 36 mm long, ovary 1 mm long; style 34             mm long, Violet N85C; stigma 1 mm long, Violet 86A.         -   Stamen description.—4, 2 upper filaments with sometimes             sterile anthers 10 mm long and Violet 86B, 2 lower filaments             fertile,18 cm long, and Violet 86C; sterile anthers Grey             Brown N199D, fertile anthers Violet 86A, pollen White 155B.         -   Fragrance.—herbal.         -   Lastingness.—a spike blooms for about 3 weeks on the plant. -   Fruit and seed: 4 nutlets, Greyed Purple N186A. -   Pests and diseases: Nepeta are known to be susceptible to southern     blight and various fungal leaf spots, crown rot, and fungal root     rot. The new cultivar has shown no problems in Canby, Oreg. 

1. A new and distinct form of Nepeta plant substantially as shown and described. 